US moves THAAD anti-missile defense system to South Korea

The South Korean Defense Minister stated in response to the increased threats from North Korea that his country and the US began to operate jointly in order to bring the THAAD anti-missile defense system to his country.

In light of the recent missile test and the increased tensions between the US and North Korea, the US military has begun moving part of its advanced anti-missile defense system to South Korea, South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-goo stated Tuesday.

The US and South Korea agreed to deploy the THAAD Anti-Missile Defense System in response to the ballistic missile tests in March and the extensive military exercise yesterday in North Korea. They expect the system to be fully operational by the end of 2017.

"South Korea and the United States have been working to secure an early operational capability of the THAAD system in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threat," the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement. However, the move has angered China, which says the advanced system will do little to deter North Korea while destabilizing the regional security balance.